Effect of music on anxiety during intrauterine insemination: a randomized controlled trial

Objective

To study the effect of music therapy on patient-reported anxiety and pain during intrauterine insemination (IUI) procedures.

Design

Randomized, controlled trial (NCT05492331).

Subjects

Patients aged 18 to 45 years undergoing IUI.

Intervention

Participants were randomly assigned 1:1 to either the music intervention group or nonmusic group. Those randomized to the music therapy group selected their music preference.

Main Outcome Measures

Differences in mean anxiety and pain between music and nonmusic groups before, during, and after IUI procedure, as assessed by visual analogue scale and Wong Baker pain scale, respectively.

Results

100 patients met inclusion criteria and were randomly assigned to listen to music (n = 50) or no music (n = 50) during their IUI. Baseline factors were similar between groups. There was no difference in patient-reported anxiety or pain scores before or during the IUI procedure. Participants in the music intervention group reported lower post-procedure anxiety scores (12.0, 95% confidence interval [8.3, 15.8] vs. 18.6, 95% confidence interval [13.6, 23.5]) compared with controls and expressed a high degree of satisfaction (92%) with this intervention. Participants in both groups expressed a desire for music therapy in future IUI procedures (88% vs. 68% in the music therapy vs no music groups, respectively).

Conclusion

Patients who listened to music during IUI reported lower anxiety scores at the conclusion of the procedure and had high satisfaction rates.

Trial registration

NCT05492331 (https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05492331).